A direct heat exchange and material transfer apparatus having a plurality of columns, a single stack of at least two solid metal plates of rectangular section, the plates being substantially all of the same shape and dimensions and parallel to a determined direction, each plate being separated from the adjacent plate, at least in a first direct heat exchange and material transfer zone of the apparatus, by a group of hollow metal columns that are aligned and have a section which is polygonal and has at least two parallel surfaces, the channels being parallel to the determined direction and contiguous with one another, the columns of each group each being in contact with the two metal plates on either side of the group, at least some of the columns of a group containing a material and heat exchange means.

A direct heat exchange and material transfer apparatus having a plurality of columns, a single stack of at least two solid metal plates of rectangular section, the plates being substantially all of the same shape and dimensions and parallel to a determined direction, each plate being separated from the adjacent plate, at least in a first direct heat exchange and material transfer zone of the apparatus, by a group of hollow metal columns that are aligned and have a section which is polygonal and has at least two parallel surfaces, the channels being parallel to the determined direction and contiguous with one another, the columns of each group each being in contact with the two metal plates on either side of the group, at least some of the columns of a group containing a material and heat exchange means.

The present invention relates to a method of reducing at least one aqueous organic compound in a triphasic reaction mixture, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least one solid, at least one liquid and at least one gaseous component, wherein (i) the solid component is (a) a catalytically active composite based on (b) at least one perforated and permeable support, wherein the catalytically active composite is on at least one side of the support and inside the support and (a) the catalytically active composite is obtained by applying a suspension comprising at least one inorganic component of a compound of at least one of the elements Ce, La Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, Rf, V, Nb, Ta, Db, Cr, Mo, W, Sg, Mn, Tc, Re, Bh, Fe, Co, B, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb and Bi with at least one of the elements Te, Se, S, O, Sb, As, P, N, Ge, Si, C and Ga and/or a compound of one of the elements Ti, Zr, Ce and Si with oxygen, and/or a metal selected from Pt, Rh, Ru, Ir, Cu, Ni, Co, Zn, and Pd, in suspension in a sol, and (b) the support comprises fibers of at least one material selected from the group consisting of carbon, metal, alloy, ceramic, glass, mineral, plastic, amorphous substance, composite, natural product, and a combination thereof and heating the support at least once to a temperature of between 100 to 800° C. for 10 minutes to 5 hours, during which the suspension comprising the inorganic component is solidified on and inside the support.

The packing has one or more thin-layer packing elements that are installed upright, the packing element having a main body portion with a planar liquid film formation surface, and one or more wall portions that are provided upright relative to the liquid film formation surface along a linear direction. The side surface of each wall portion has a curved portion at the base thereof connected to the liquid film formation surface, the curved portion curving so as to continue into the liquid film formation surface.

The packing has one or more thin-layer packing elements that are installed upright, the packing element having a main body portion with a planar liquid film formation surface, and one or more wall portions that are provided upright relative to the liquid film formation surface along a linear direction. The side surface of each wall portion has a curved portion at the base thereof connected to the liquid film formation surface, the curved portion curving so as to continue into the liquid film formation surface.

An open mesh member for insertion into a cooling tower utilizing polluted or clean water and counterflow or crossflow airflow includes a plurality of corrugations including upper support frames, lower support frames and a wall strand. The upper and lower support frames extend at a corrugation angle relative to a height axis. The corrugations have a plurality of openings through a thickness of the mesh member. A planar edge positioned at a first end of the mesh member. A beveled edge positioned at a second end of the mesh member. The beveled edge includes a first bevel extending distally from one of the upper support frames. The bevel includes first and second legs and a distal end. The first and second legs extend substantially parallel relative to the associated upper support frame.

An open mesh member for insertion into a cooling tower utilizing polluted or clean water and counterflow or crossflow airflow includes a plurality of corrugations including upper support frames, lower support frames and a wall strand. The upper and lower support frames extend at a corrugation angle relative to a height axis. The corrugations have a plurality of openings through a thickness of the mesh member. A planar edge positioned at a first end of the mesh member. A beveled edge positioned at a second end of the mesh member. The beveled edge includes a first bevel extending distally from one of the upper support frames. The bevel includes first and second legs and a distal end. The first and second legs extend substantially parallel relative to the associated upper support frame.

A method for manufacturing a heat and material exchange apparatus having a plurality of columns and by a series of at least three metal plates of rectangular section, the plates being substantially all of the same shape and dimensions, each plate being separated from the adjacent plate by a group of hollow metal columns that are aligned and have a section which is polygonal, the columns of each group being parallel to one another, at least some of the columns of a group containing a material and heat exchange means, at least the parts of the plates which are in contact with the columns being coated with a brazing material wherein the plates are secured to the columns by placing the exchange apparatus in a furnace and by heating the furnace in order to braze the apparatus to form a parallelepipedal block.

A method for manufacturing a heat and material exchange apparatus having a plurality of columns and by a series of at least three metal plates of rectangular section, the plates being substantially all of the same shape and dimensions, each plate being separated from the adjacent plate by a group of hollow metal columns that are aligned and have a section which is polygonal, the columns of each group being parallel to one another, at least some of the columns of a group containing a material and heat exchange means, at least the parts of the plates which are in contact with the columns being coated with a brazing material wherein the plates are secured to the columns by placing the exchange apparatus in a furnace and by heating the furnace in order to braze the apparatus to form a parallelepipedal block.

A packing for gas-liquid contact has at least one packing element of a thin layer shape, placed in a standing position. The packing element has a main body portion having a planar liquid film-forming surface extending along a liquid flow direction, and at least one wall portion provided to stand relative to the liquid film-forming surface and extending along the liquid flow direction. The wall portion has a side surface inclined at a predetermined angle to the liquid film-forming surface in a surface position of a liquid film to be formed by a liquid on the liquid film-forming surface.